1/2” EMT bender

[Jpflex]

This hand bender says 5’ take up for 90 degree bends as well as ugly book. However when you add 5 inches to any mark and bend at this point, the bend ends at 2 inches beyond desired distance before 5” mark

The bend is alway 3” take up and the stub arrow is used at marks. A level confirms 90 degree stub up so what could be the issue?

Do we use notch teardrop or star instead of arrow?

 

[infinity]

You use the arrow adjacent to the notch. You can always test the deduction by simply bending a 90 with the end of the EMT at the front edge of the bender. After it's bent measure the size of the elbow and deduct the distance from the front of the bender to the arrow. That will be the deduction.

For example: elbow is 7", front of bender to arrow is 2", so the deduction is 5".

 

[Jpflex]

You use the arrow adjacent to the notch. You can always test the deduction by simply bending a 90 with the end of the EMT at the front edge of the bender. After it's bent measure the size of the elbow and deduct the distance from the front of the bender to the arrow. That will be the deduction.

For example: elbow is 7", front of bender to arrow is 2", so the deduction is 5".

I am using the arrow in the picture and take up is 3’ not 5

 

[qcroanoke]

If you're pulling the other way you should add 2 1/2 and put your arrow on that mark. But I'm not really sure what you are asking.....but it has been years since I bent any EMT.

 

[infinity]

I am using the arrow in the picture and take up is 3’ not 5

So if you want a 10" elbow you have to deduct only 3" from the end to end up with a 10" elbow? Something doesn't seem right or were not using the same terminology. It says right on the bender that the deduct is 5".

If you can describe how you would bend a 10" elbow?

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

Op says add 5" not subtract 5"
That may be his issue.
You deduct not add using arrow
If you reverse put star on mark not add and use arrow.

Much easier

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

Let's say you need and 10" 90 on a 10' stick.
Make a mark 10" from one end.
Then subtract 5"(1/2" EMT). This is where you place the arrow and bend the short end up. ( Under 60)

Let's say you need a 96" 90.
Mark 96" from end of pipe place star on that mark and bend short end up.(Over 60)

I like to teach this way. Anything over 60" mark and use star. Always bend short end up.

Over 60" use star you will know your correct due it is the short end.
Under 60" you always deduct and bend short end up.
FYI
10'= 120"
Have fun

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

Found these examples for you

 

[garbo]

This hand bender says 5’ take up for 90 degree bends as well as ugly book. However when you add 5 inches to any mark and bend at this point, the bend ends at 2 inches beyond desired distance before 5” mark

The bend is alway 3” take up and the stub arrow is used at marks. A level confirms 90 degree stub up so what could be the issue?

Do we use notch teardrop or star instead of arrow?

There are several free illustrated conduit pages in the internet. I had to make copies for a few coworkers who always had trouble making easy back to back 90 degrees bends. Still have my dad's think it's called Jack Benfield conduit bending guide. A very handy maybe 12 page booklet that fits in a shirt pocket. Seemed like the bending degree #'s got smaller over the years on my old benders do I sprayed painted the heads with white paint then used orange & red paint markers to high lit the degree markers, notch etc. A lot easier to see them when I don't have the bifocals on.

 

[rambojoe]

You are simply mixing up 90° stub lengths (deduct 5) with where the back of the 90 (star) ends up. Or more simply, what is a stub, vs the back of a 90°.
In this one paragraph is the trick to bending small pipe without a tape measure... you just need the bender shooting the right way.

 

[electrofelon]

Basically bender hook facing the direction you are measuring from, use the arrow and deduct value from where u want the back of bend. Hook facing away from the end you are measuring, use the star right on the back of bend mark.

 

[readydave8]

I learned to alternate direction:
Pull tape measure forward
Back up 5"
Pull bender handle forward

 

[Jpflex]

Found these examples for you

This is what im doing but results are not 5” takeup

 

[ActionDave]

This is what im doing but results are not 5” takeup

Are you saying that you mark six inches on a piece of half inch emt, bend a ninety, and it doesn't stick up off the ground eleven inches?

If you answer, "yes" then either you need a different bender or a different tape measure or you need to line up the mark you make on the emt with a different spot on the bender.

 

[infinity]

This is what im doing but results are not 5” takeup

So were all on the same page what is your definition of take up? Can you explain exactly how you would make a 10" elbow with this bender?

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

See if these help.

Duplicate and share your answers.

First bend:

Mark 1.5 and 6

Place arrow @ 1.5 and bend 90.



Second bend:

Mark 14 from back of first 90

Place Star on mark and bend 90.



Then cut second bend tail to 6.5

Share for comment.



Thinks to look for as far as margin of error.

End of tape measure bent.
This can make your bends short as you hook the end of pipe. Usually from being dropped.
Side bar: I listen for those who drop there tape and ask to see at afterwards.

The push me pull me of the end of tape. This compensates for the thickness of the tip.

Penciled/ marker line width.

Tip of tape and pencil mark can cause up to an 1/8 error.



With a test bend as described we can dial you in for your bender.

I never share my bender and I only use my shoes for bending my pipe.



Different mfg has a little diff radius.

This is why the test bends are important to dial in Bender. Ideal and Klein have different radius and bend just a little diff based on marks.



Enjoy and look forward to you test

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

On A lighter side. I usually charge a lot to break out my bender on a Saturday morning before a pot of . The help a fellow brother out, NO charge.

Had me a pot of
Since I was thinking about this I thought I would have some fun before cleaning up the garage and tools.

 

[TwoBlocked]

Rather than make a mistake when subtracting or marking the stub length and then another mark for the deduct, what I do is put the amount of deduct shown on the tape measure on the end of the conduit (5" for 1/2" bender, meaning the end of the tape sticks 5" past the end of the conduit) and then mark the desired stub length shown on the tape measure (say 11") on the conduit. This results in placing the bend mark 6" from the end of the conduit directly.

 

[kec]

Rather than make a mistake when subtracting or marking the stub length and then another mark for the deduct, what I do is put the amount of deduct shown on the tape measure on the end of the conduit (5" for 1/2" bender, meaning the end of the tape sticks 5" past the end of the conduit) and then mark the desired stub length shown on the tape measure (say 11") on the conduit. This results in placing the bend mark 6" from the end of the conduit directly.

That's exactly how I've been doing it since i started in the trade. If I want a 17-3/4 stub up, just put the 5 inch mark on the end of the pipe
and arrow on 17-3/4" No math needed.

 

[hbiss]

That's exactly how I've been doing it since i started in the trade. If I want a 17-3/4 stub up, just put the 5 inch mark on the end of the pipe
and arrow on 17-3/4" No math needed.

Exactly.

And "the star foretells where the back of the bend will lie" if you are going the other way.

-Hal